used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Beside the bubbling brook that sang so softly, she had found she could think calmly.
brooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Beside the bubbling brook that sang so softly, she had found she could think calmly.
bubblingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌbəlɪŋ/
emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation
From this reading Beside the bubbling brook that sang so softly, she had found she could think calmly.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
buyingnounUS /ˈbaɪɪŋ/
the act of buying
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
make calm or still
From this reading There was reason enough for calm thinking, too.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading Beside the bubbling brook that sang so softly, she had found she could think calmly.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Beside the bubbling brook that sang so softly, she had found she could think calmly.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading There was reason enough for calm thinking, too.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was reason enough for calm thinking, too.
set up or found
From this reading Beside the bubbling brook that sang so softly, she had found she could think calmly.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
and nothing more
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
Marion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
McAlpin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/
moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
held or filled or in use
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
and nothing more
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
by chance
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
PowellnounUS /ˈpaʊəl/
United States general who was the first African American to serve as chief of staff; later served as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush (born 1937)
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
profitnounUS /ˈprɑːfət/
the excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time (including depreciation and other non-cash expenses)
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading There was reason enough for calm thinking, too.
Identical; not different.
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading Beside the bubbling brook that sang so softly, she had found she could think calmly.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Beside the bubbling brook that sang so softly, she had found she could think calmly.
with low volume
From this reading Beside the bubbling brook that sang so softly, she had found she could think calmly.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was reason enough for calm thinking, too.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Beside the bubbling brook that sang so softly, she had found she could think calmly.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading There was reason enough for calm thinking, too.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There was reason enough for calm thinking, too.
tractnounUS /trækt/
an extended area of land
From this reading They had entered into this business of buying the Powell coal tract, expecting only mild adventure and possibly a large profit.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading That same evening, just at dusk, Marion came upon a fresh and startling mystery.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
whipsawedverbUS /ˈwɪpsɔːd/
past form of “whipsaw” — victimize, especially in gambling or negotiations
From this reading She had climbed the hill at the back of the ancient whipsawed cabin which was occupied by Mrs. McAlpin and her friends.
